Your Complete Guide to Different Types of Beer

It’s no secret that beer is a beloved beverage the world over. It is a staple beverage for numerous occasions like parties, sporting events, for a bunch of friends hanging out, and so much more. Beer has a status as a social drink in different societies and is something consumed in a spirit of camaraderie and fun. And it still holds the coveted position as the most popular alcoholic drink in the world.

Beer is brewed using malted cereal grains (wheat, barley, maize, rice, etc.), hops, and water fermented by adding yeast. It is one of the world’s oldest prepared drinks, with some of the earliest Sumerian writings containing beer references. Moreover, some people tend to try exciting combinations like Beer and kratom or even cannabis and beer. Beer and kratom might sound unusual, but the combination works when consumed in a blend. One can quickly get the latter from the best kratom vendor.

Here is a quick summary of beer categories and styles:

1.  Ale

Ale is a general category of beer. You’ll find different subcategories like Brown Ale, Golden Ale, Scotch Ale, Pale Ale, etc. Ale is also the oldest and most common type of craft beer, mainly because it can be brewed in relatively short time. The drink is available in different varieties and is generally bitter (hoppier in beer terms) and rich in color. Its colors range from dark brown to pale. Most ales contain larger amounts of hops (flowers used as a bittering, flavoring, and stability agent in beer) that help preserve the beer and impart a bitter herbal flavor to balance the malt’s sweetness.

2.  CBD Infused Beer

CBD-infused beer is a new player in the brewing industry. It might seem unusual to include it among beer styles, but its growing popularity makes it worthy of special mention. It gained tremendous popularity across the U.S. as ‘a beer without a hangover’. We can say it’s only a matter of time before it hits the world market. CBD-infused beer contains little to no alcohol and is non-intoxicating. It doesn’t make the drinker cannabis dependent or an alcoholic, and drinkers often report feelings of relaxation and positive moods after consuming it. It is catching on quickly and there is ongoing research to study its effect on health, well-being, and overall health benefits.

3.  Lager

Lager, along with ale, is the other general style of beer. Bottom fermented at cooler temperatures, lager takes longer to brew than ale. This yeast’s growth is much slower than with ale, and the results are a beer that is smoother, subtler, and usually lighter in flavor. Lager makes it an ideal drink for new drinkers or people with low alcohol tolerance. The Lager style of producing beer is the most common in most countries, except in England, where ale is more popular.

4.  Lambic

Lambic beer is far less prevalent than Ale and Lager. Lambic beer refers to fermented beers laced with fruit. The process of creation involves allowing the beer to come into contact with bacteria and yeast. This unique fermentation method gives the beer a sweet, acidic cider-like taste, a powerful punch, and sometimes a wild flavor. Lambic beer was earlier a style only in Brussels, Belgium, wherein it relied on the surrounding cold air for fermenting. Today, lambics are appreciated around the world and many in the United States consider lambics their favorite style.

5.  Stout

Stout is a solid-flavored, thick, dark, and often decadent drink. It is brewed as ale, but it deserves its own category because, among other reasons, consumers often don’t even realize they are drinking ale and often refer to it as a style all its own. Stouts are brewed with copious amounts of roasted malt and black malt, resulting in dark colors and often coffee- like flavors. Popular brands such as Guinness are lower in alcohol, but American craft stouts can pack an alcoholic punch. Barrel aged stouts usually up the alcoholic ante even further.  

6.  Porter

Porter is a style of dark beer which originated in England during the 1700s. It was an English pub drink popular among the river and street porters. Like Stout, this beer has a deep ruby brown to a dark black color and roasted malt aroma. Porter beers can be fruity or dry in flavor, determined by the roasted malt used in the brewing process. Also like stout, porter is a type of ale but because it doesn’t contain the word ‘ale’ in the name, consumers often are unaware that this style if a type of ale and thus consider it a category all its own.

7.  Pilsner

Pilsner is a pale lager with a hopped, crisp taste. It originated in the town of Pilsen in the Czech Republic. It is a refreshing summer drink with a beautiful golden hue and is best-enjoyed ice cold. The beer’s popularity coincided with the advent of glass bottles around the 1850s. And it is the inspiration for most of the world’s best- selling beer brands.

8.  India Pale Ale

A bitter version of the standard Pale Ale, IPA is brewed with additional hops for added zing. Yes, it is a type of ale and could have been mentioned in that category, but its immense popularity make it worthy of its own mention. The high levels of bittering agent enabled the beer to survive the long boat trip for British soldiers stationed in India, or so the legend goes. For many, IPA is difficult to accept due to its bitter taste. Depending on the hops used in the brewing process, India Pale Ales may also have fruity flavors or resin and pine taste. Still, in spite of its acquired taste, it reigns as the most popular craft beer style brewed in the United States.

9.  Bock

This beer, a type of lager, has its origins in the German town of Einbeck but became quite popular in Munich. Bavarian monks consumed this as a source of nutrition during times of fasting. Bock is dark amber colored with malt flavors and high hoppiness. Hopped modern-day Bocks are much lighter than the Old Bavarian style Bock. American craft bocks are difficult to pin down, with tastes that span from sweet to bitter and back.

10.  Wheat Beer

Wheat beer is an easy-to-drink, light style of beer. Wheat beer relies on a portion of wheat for the malt ingredient, giving it a light color. Wheat beers are usually lower in alcohol content and can be brewed as ale or lager. The most popular Wheat beer is Hefeweizen. It is a refreshing style from Germany and is famous worldwide. It is sweet with a thick, white, foamy head and makes for a refreshing summer drink.

Conclusion

Beer is a refreshing drink to have with friends, to drink solo, or to consume with a light snack or hearty meal. It is a widely consumed beverage and varies in its brewing and fermentation methods but can be counted on to include at least the basic ingredients of malt, hops, water, and yeast. As you now are more aware of the different types of beer, try out the varied types of beer and enjoy celebrating this popular alcoholic drink!

Special thanks to Grace Hawkins for contributing this Great Beer Now guest post!